Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

22 Sikh Asylum-Seekers Go On Hunger Strike In Florida Jail, 9 Released

IANS, 12 Aug, 2015 12:27 PM
    Nine out of the 22 Sikh asylum-seekers on a hunger strike in a Florida jail demanding to be released while their asylum cases are evaluated have been set free, media reported.
     
    The nine were released on August 10 while the remaining 13 were still under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the Broward Transitional Centre, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
     
    "Things should never have reached this extreme point," Latin Times newspaper quoted Shalini Agarwal, Florida staff attorney at ACLU, as saying on Tuesday.
     
    The 22 Sikh men were detained after arriving at the Texas border in May.
     
    The men began a hunger strike when they learned that they were denied a bond hearing, that could have released them from custody and sent to their family members in the US, until their asylum inquiry.
     
    "ICE needs to honour immigration enforcement priorities and use its prosecutorial discretion to not detain asylum seekers without bond, especially where they have demonstrated credible fear of persecution if returned to their home countries," Agarwal said.
     
    "Their granting of bond to some of these men is an important step, but there are many more detainees like them who should not be kept behind bars while their asylum proceedings are underway," she said.
     
    Some of the men may have been subjected to forced feeding and solitary confinement, a letter sent to ICE by the ACLU on August 6 said.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Lawyer Withdraws From Case Of Saskatchewan Man Who Admitted To Burning Woman

    Lawyer Withdraws From Case Of Saskatchewan Man Who Admitted To Burning Woman
    PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — A Saskatchewan man who has pleaded guilty to assaulting and setting a woman on fire is looking for a new lawyer.

    Lawyer Withdraws From Case Of Saskatchewan Man Who Admitted To Burning Woman

    Alberta Man Sentenced To 40 Years In Puerto Rico For Production Of Child Porn

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A Canadian man has been sentenced in Puerto Rico to 40 years in prison for possession and production of child pornography.

    Alberta Man Sentenced To 40 Years In Puerto Rico For Production Of Child Porn

    Society Director Joe Leong Fined For Misappropriating Kamloops Railway Society Funds

    Society Director Joe Leong Fined For Misappropriating Kamloops Railway Society Funds
    Joe Leong, 65, admitted using money from the Kamloops Heritage Railway Society to tend to his personal finances and was fined $2,000.

    Society Director Joe Leong Fined For Misappropriating Kamloops Railway Society Funds

    Syncrude Faces Protection Order After Heron Deaths In Northern Alberta

    Syncrude Faces Protection Order After Heron Deaths In Northern Alberta
    Oilsands giant Syncrude is facing an environmental protection order after the deaths of 30 great blue herons at one of its sites.

    Syncrude Faces Protection Order After Heron Deaths In Northern Alberta

    Stephen Harper, Kathleen Wynne Lock Horns Again Over New Ontario Pension Plan

    Stephen Harper, Kathleen Wynne Lock Horns Again Over New Ontario Pension Plan
    Premier Kathleen Wynne says Stephen Harper is standing in the way of an Ontario pension plan, while the prime minister says he's happy to block what he calls "an enormous tax hike."

    Stephen Harper, Kathleen Wynne Lock Horns Again Over New Ontario Pension Plan

    Chris Hyndman's Obit Recalls His Charisma, Wit, Smile

    Chris Hyndman's Obit Recalls His Charisma, Wit, Smile
    An obituary honouring the charisma, wit and smile of TV personality Chris Hyndman is drawing hundreds of comments from fans online.

    Chris Hyndman's Obit Recalls His Charisma, Wit, Smile